>хотелско обзавежданеance Youth Chair Conrad Dickson has criticized comments by the Employment and Learning Minister Sir Reg Empey that some young people not in employment, education or training were like ‘vampires’ as they get up late and stay up all night. He said Sir Reg Empey should apologise for his remarks.

Conrad Dickson said: “These comments by Sir Reg Empey clearly show how out of touch he is with young people today. What he said was a disgrace and he should apologise for his remarks..

“This was obviously Sir Reg’s attempt to look tough but it has backfired and embarrassed him.

“It’s ok for him to sit in his ministerial ivory tower and hurl insults at young people but he does not understand the realities of what it is like to leave education, only to face months or years of looking for a job.

“We all suspected that the Ulster Unionists and UCUNF are out of touch, and these comments confirm this.”

Alliance Youth is holding a petition at Queen’s University Freshers’ Fair tomorrow as part of its ongoing campaign to tackle racism in our society. Chair of Alliance Youth Conrad Dixon has said it is vitally important that young people have a voice and he said that the petition calls for the First and Deputy First Minister to bring forward the Cohesion, Sharing and Integration strategy urgently. Amongst others, David Ford and Anna Lo will be attending Freshers’ Fair.

Conrad Dixon said: “This petition gives students at Queen’s University the chance to shout with one clear voice that racism must be stopped.

“We need action form the First and Deputy First Minister to introduce the measures necessary to tackle prejudice in our society. It is a disgrace that after the events involving the intimidation of Romanian families, this vital new strategy to crack down on racism and sectarianism in Northern Ireland has not yet been produced.

“I am hoping for an excellent response to our petition. We need to show young people that politics can work and that they should get involved if they want to make changes that impact positively on people’s everyday lives.”

“Our petition can also be signed online here.

Commenting on Ian Parsley’s defection to the Conservative Party, Alliance Party Leader David Ford said:

“I am very disappointed at this news because I believe that Alliance remains the only party totally committed to a shared future in both word and deed.

“Whatever they may say about creating a shared future, UCUNF is still a sectarian group. There are huge contradictions between the delusions of some Conservatives that think they are anti-sectarian, and the 1950s-style bigotry still coming from Ulster Unionists elements. I fear Ian will find this contradiction more and more difficult to live with as time goes on.

“He has left a promising political career to stumble down a blind alley. It is sad to see an up and coming politician move to a marginal party with minimal prospects.”

After our involvement last year, Alliance Youth will be taking part in the nineteenth Belfast Pride Parade on Saturday 1 August.

We look forward to as many of our supporters and members joining us! We are meeting outside McHugh’s bar near Custom House Square at 1pm.

If you can go please let Conrad know on 07917153163.

Saturday 14 March, saw an enthusiastic group of Alliance Youth activists descend on Holywood for a day of surveying.

We met at the Maypole and headed up Church Road to the left and to the right. Many surveys were returned, and it was great to be out and about with European candidate, Cllr Ian Parsley.

We are already looking forward to next month’s action day in Lisburn, but before that there are further events to come.